Looks superb! I live outside Perth as well. The DS3 was the bike that turned me on to bikes back in '66. A neighbour had one, and the soulfull moan from the exhausts, as he rode to Uni every day, flicked a switch that has never been turned off. I'm still a two stroke man at heart - have a GT250 Suzuki I need to get stuck into (as well as my wife's CB350....)
Thanks for that, I think the choke was still on then, but not sure as I was so blown away being it's first run after rebuild. It blew out loads of smoke much to everyone's amusement. Now all the residue has gone and it starts up first kick, no choke and settles down to a steady tickover straight away. Cheers, Rick
I rode one of these when it was new... my impression : smooth as an electric motor, cushy as a marshmellow... really really pleasant to ride with plenty of smooth power.
You go boy! I know you felt 19 years old once again. I had the feeling when I purchased the bike I wanted as a teenager and did the same thng you did as far as rebuilding and making it road worthy. Enjoy and be safe!
Thanks for the comment, glad to see these bikes are appreciated, loads of people admire it whenever I park up. Wow, you are lucky if grampa give it to you and that he kept it all this time, wish I had kept mine from the 60's. Best of luck with the rebuild, it is worth it in the end.
What a lovely bike. I must be getting old because I'm starting to do the same thing. I'm looking at a used '65 YDS3 with less than 2 thousand original miles. I hope that you are still enjoying your bike!
Yep, I love the early Japanese bikes, I had a 3 cylinder 250 Kawaski 2 stroke and a beautiful GS750 Suzuki, both gone now I'm afraid. Your GT380 looks and sounds immaculate, I remember when they were very popular. Your shots of "Raleigh" certainly make it look attractive. I have lived in Perth, WA for 16 years but am from "Grimsby" so you are right about the Ex-Pat bit. Cheers, Rick
Hi, Your CB160 looks good, a mate had one and I always thought they were a great bike in the 60's, giving many of the bigger British bikes a fright. Used that excuse several times in the past, "just clearing out the carbon officer". Cheers, Rick
It has settled down a bit but still leaves a beautiful light bluey grey trail behind it. I thought this might fail it when I took it to be inspected before it could be registered. Turns out the inspector was a 2 stroke fan who just wanted to get to the road testing part, he was gone a while and then came back and photographed it from all angles for his scrapbook. And that howl from the air intake, mine seems particularly loud, people look in amazement a long time before I reach them, magic.
My first motorcycle was a 55 cc Yamaha. I think it was a 1965. My dad bought it for me brand new. I really wanted a 250 as shown here a liitle later but bought a CB 160 instead for some practical reasons. These were high performance rides and really nice looking to boot! I did buy a Yamaha 1973 RD 350 new later on.
My first motorcycle was a 1966 YDS3. I loved the 2 stroke sound it made and it easily beat my friends 250 Honda 4 stroke. I recall painting the petrol tank with an enamel paint from an aerosol can. I painted it black and applied gold pin striping. It looked to me like a Norton Commando (forgive me - I was only 17 at the time). Next stop was the gas station and much to my horror when I over filled the tank the petrol washed my million dollar paint job right off. Replaced it with a 1971 Honda SL350
I bought a new one in 1967 (a candy red one!); it cost 167 pounds and I traded a C76 Honda that I had restored from a wreck for it (got top dollar too!). I used to love burning off Triumph Thunderbird 650s on it at the traffic lights and coming out of corners on the open road. It handled well for its day, and the brakes were pretty good too. The factory tyres were pretty awful, and felt as if they were made of recycled plastic milk bottles, the grip was so low, and the back tyre wore out very fast, thank goodness. I replaced them both with Avons, and it all came together then! It was totally reliable once I put gold/palladium plugs in it, made sure the timing was spot on because it was critical (I used a dial gauge in a plug hole) and only the very best two-stroke oil was in the tank. It also paid to remove the muffler baffle tubes two or three times a year and chuck them into the fire (if you didn't have a propane torch!) to burn all of the carbon off. Low speed stuff in traffic tends to coke them up and strangle the engine, and I used to ride it to work every day in all weathers. I could get close to 90mph out of mine once it was run in. Great bike, and I still remember it with fondness. If I rode it again today, I would probably think that it was not so good; bikes have come a LONG way since the 60s, but in its day it was a top machine.
Hi, Thanks for the comment, glad to see I am not the only one who remembers the YDS3 from his youth. This one came from Mississauga Canada and I don't know much about it's history apart from the guy who sold it to me is now deceased, and he never had it running. Keep on hoping it's your old one still going, I am certainly spending a lot of time & money on restoring it. Now it runs and looks even better than this video, when I have time I will post an updated video on TH-cam. Cheers, Rick
Excellent Rick... good for you ! Reallly worthwhile bike to rebuild. If you look at this bike.. what you will see are the absolute epitomy of what motorcycle ergonomics should be in a smallish medium sized motorcycle. Long flat seat, foot pegs decently low, western bars, but well adapted to lower bars as well, good safe passenger seat and pegs, easy to add luggage rack and bags if you need them. Quite adequate brakes ( double leading shoe expanding brakes). I think the mufflers are louder than they were when new. You see some smoking here, that is teething issue with rebuild.. and will soon be sorted I;m sure. I say all this not being a fan of later yamaha's at all. This was thier best.,
I had a YDS2 in 1968. It ran on oil mixed petrol. When it was cold started , it also made massive clouds of sweet smoke. After warming up, the bike still rode in front of a blue contrail. Also,on a calm clear night, the signature howl from the air intake could be heard from half a mile away. Memories... May I have your bike please?
Looks superb! I live outside Perth as well. The DS3 was the bike that turned me on to bikes back in '66. A neighbour had one, and the soulfull moan from the exhausts, as he rode to Uni every day, flicked a switch that has never been turned off. I'm still a two stroke man at heart - have a GT250 Suzuki I need to get stuck into (as well as my wife's CB350....)
Thanks for that, I think the choke was still on then, but not sure as I was so blown away being it's first run after rebuild. It blew out loads of smoke much to everyone's amusement. Now all the residue has gone and it starts up first kick, no choke and settles down to a steady tickover straight away.
Cheers, Rick
I rode one of these when it was new... my impression : smooth as an electric motor, cushy as a marshmellow... really really pleasant to ride with plenty of smooth power.
You go boy! I know you felt 19 years old once again. I had the feeling when I purchased the bike I wanted as a teenager and did the same thng you did as far as rebuilding and making it road worthy. Enjoy and be safe!
That bike looks awesome. I'm building one myself. This was my grampa's first bike and he just gave it to me.
Thanks for the comment, glad to see these bikes are appreciated, loads of people admire it whenever I park up.
Wow, you are lucky if grampa give it to you and that he kept it all this time, wish I had kept mine from the 60's.
Best of luck with the rebuild, it is worth it in the end.
What a lovely bike. I must be getting old because I'm starting to do the same thing. I'm looking at a used '65 YDS3 with less than 2 thousand original miles. I hope that you are still enjoying your bike!
Ahhhhhh the nostalgia! Great rebuild ! Yes the choke was on as you said ! I had a YDS 5 e A love hate relationship 😂😂😂
Yep, I love the early Japanese bikes, I had a 3 cylinder 250 Kawaski 2 stroke and a beautiful GS750 Suzuki,
both gone now I'm afraid. Your GT380 looks and sounds immaculate, I remember when they were very popular. Your shots of "Raleigh" certainly make it look attractive. I have lived in Perth, WA for 16 years but am from "Grimsby" so you are right about the Ex-Pat bit.
Cheers, Rick
Hi, Your CB160 looks good, a mate had one and I always thought they were a great bike in the 60's, giving many of the bigger British bikes a fright. Used that excuse several times in the past, "just clearing out the carbon officer".
Cheers, Rick
Smokes like a wood stove! Cool little bike though. Lots of fun.
She looks beautiful, like a brand new. The 60´s and 70´s Japanese bikes are awesome. I never had see some DS3 before, just the DS5. Congrats.
It has settled down a bit but still leaves a beautiful light bluey grey trail behind it. I thought this might fail it when I took it to be inspected before it could be registered. Turns out the inspector was a 2 stroke fan who just wanted to get to the road testing part, he was gone a while and then came back and photographed it from all angles for his scrapbook. And that howl from the air intake, mine seems particularly loud, people look in amazement a long time before I reach them, magic.
you did an excellent job of redoing it,,,
sounds good and look's good too.
Those Yamaha 2 cylinder 2 strokes were the best. I had an RD 350 and it was insanely fast!
My first motorcycle was a 55 cc Yamaha. I think it was a 1965. My dad bought it for me brand new. I really wanted a 250 as shown here a liitle later but bought a CB 160 instead for some practical reasons. These were high performance rides and really nice looking to boot! I did buy a Yamaha 1973 RD 350 new later on.
Mine was a 1967 in red Loved it Had it for years
My first motorcycle was a 1966 YDS3. I loved the 2 stroke sound it made and it easily beat my friends 250 Honda 4 stroke. I recall painting the petrol tank with an enamel paint from an aerosol can. I painted it black and applied gold pin striping. It looked to me like a Norton Commando (forgive me - I was only 17 at the time). Next stop was the gas station and much to my horror when I over filled the tank the petrol washed my million dollar paint job right off. Replaced it with a 1971 Honda SL350
Hi, mine was red, 6000 RPM like a kick up the back ,it hit the power band and Whoooosh!
I bought a new one in 1967 (a candy red one!); it cost 167 pounds and I traded a C76 Honda that I had restored from a wreck for it (got top dollar too!). I used to love burning off Triumph Thunderbird 650s on it at the traffic lights and coming out of corners on the open road.
It handled well for its day, and the brakes were pretty good too. The factory tyres were pretty awful, and felt as if they were made of recycled plastic milk bottles, the grip was so low, and the back tyre wore out very fast, thank goodness. I replaced them both with Avons, and it all came together then!
It was totally reliable once I put gold/palladium plugs in it, made sure the timing was spot on because it was critical (I used a dial gauge in a plug hole) and only the very best two-stroke oil was in the tank. It also paid to remove the muffler baffle tubes two or three times a year and chuck them into the fire (if you didn't have a propane torch!) to burn all of the carbon off. Low speed stuff in traffic tends to coke them up and strangle the engine, and I used to ride it to work every day in all weathers. I could get close to 90mph out of mine once it was run in. Great bike, and I still remember it with fondness.
If I rode it again today, I would probably think that it was not so good; bikes have come a LONG way since the 60s, but in its day it was a top machine.
I bought 1 in 1966 I was on it most the time for 2 years I was 15 1/2 but I could ride it then was great time
ファンタスティック. I love YDS3. From Japan.
Hi, Thanks for the comment, glad to see I am not the only one who remembers the YDS3 from his youth. This one came from Mississauga Canada and I don't know much about it's history apart from the guy who sold it to me is now deceased, and he never had it running. Keep on hoping it's your old one still going, I am certainly spending a lot of time & money on restoring it.
Now it runs and looks even better than this video, when I have time I will post an updated video on TH-cam.
Cheers, Rick
Excellent Rick... good for you ! Reallly worthwhile bike to rebuild. If you look at this bike.. what you will see are the absolute epitomy of what motorcycle ergonomics should be in a smallish medium sized motorcycle. Long flat seat, foot pegs decently low, western bars, but well adapted to lower bars as well, good safe passenger seat and pegs, easy to add luggage rack and bags if you need them. Quite adequate brakes ( double leading shoe expanding brakes). I think the mufflers are louder than they were when new. You see some smoking here, that is teething issue with rebuild.. and will soon be sorted I;m sure. I say all this not being a fan of later yamaha's at all. This was thier best.,
I had a YDS2 in 1968. It ran on oil mixed petrol. When it was cold started , it also made massive clouds of sweet smoke. After warming up, the bike still rode in front of a blue contrail. Also,on a calm clear night, the signature howl from the air intake could be heard from half a mile away. Memories... May I have your bike please?
beautiful mister!
Had the same bike in candy red !!!! Found it at a yard sale for 250 bucks !!! The tach would not work if the clutch was pulled in !!😁😁😁😁😁🏍🏍🍺🍺🍺
👍Grat!
magic bike that well done!
Thanks!!!
Rick I understand this video is over a decade old but where did you source the seat?
In my videos you can see a Pannonia p21. It is almost the same bike.
Un sonido nítido Jorge d guatemala
Lovely, but sounds like you rode away with the choke on!
Yamaha fans will love a book called The Tiddler Invasion. Get it from Amazon.
what size tires are you running? i have a 1964 yds3
is it two stroke ?
NYC bike
Same rd 350 ...in India 1984
Only running on one..carbs way too fat. I owned a new one they were a blast. Enjoy.
I hope he's not in a smokeless zone!
It for you...1 like,,ok?
HAHA no break in just go give it full throttle on 10.1 mix gas.
Necesito conseguir clutch y perno de caja de velocidades de ésa moto yD3 o yd2 250cc 1964 o 1965. Alguien sabe dónde podré conseguirlos???
very similar to Russian motorcycle jupiter 4